The Heart of Plotinus: The Essential Enneads

by Aldis Uzdavinys (Editor), Jay Bregman (Foreword by)

Overview

Drawing parallels with other traditions, U davinys emphasizes that Plotinus' philosophy was not a purely mental or rational exercise, but a complete way of life incorporating the spiritual virtues. Plotinus is widely regarded as the founder of the school of Neo-Platonism and this book provides an introduction to his teachings and an informative commentary on the Enneads. Also included is a commentary by Plotinus' leading disciple, Porphyry (c. 233-305 A.D.), on an enigmatic passage from Homer's epic, the Odyssey.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781933316697
Publisher:	World Wisdom
Publication date:	04/16/2009
Series:	Perennial Philosophy
Pages:	296
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.70(d)

Table of Contents

Foreword Jay Bregman vii

The Philosophy of Plotinus the Egyptian Algis U&zcheck;davinys

Plotinus and His Master Ammonius 1

Plotinus and His School in Rome 10

Plotinus and the Tradition of Hellenic Philosophy 14

The Metaphysics of Plotinus 21

Mystical Experience, Self-Knowledge, and Union with the One 29

Plotinus between East and West 35

Remarks on Stephen MacKenna's Translation 43

Plotinus: The Enneads

Enn. I.2 On the Virtues 47

Enn. I.3 On Dialectic 58

Enn. I.6 On Beauty 64

Enn. II.9 Against the Gnostics 77

Enn. III.2 On Providence (I) 86

Enn. III.5 On Love 96

Enn. III.6 On the Impassivity of the Unembodied 111

Enn. III.8 On Nature, Contemplation, and the One 118

Enn. IV.3 Problems of the Soul (I) 136

Enn. IV.4 Problems of the Soul (II) 145

Enn. IV.8 The Soul's Descent into Body 158

Enn. V.8 On the Intelligible Beauty 169

Enn. VI.5 On the Integral Omnipresence of the Authentic Existent (II) 187

Enn. VI.7 How the Multiplicity of the Ideal-Forms Came into Being; and on the Good 193

Enn. VI.8 On Free Will and the Will of the One 204

Enn. VI.9 On the Good, or the One 209

Porphyry's On the Cave of the Nymphs and the Spiritual Exegesis of Homer by Algis U&zcheck;davinys

Porphyry and His Works 223

Odysseus as a Philosopher and Spiritual Hero 224

Porphyry's Allegorical Interpretation of Homer 227

Numenius and His Pythagorean Philosophy 230

Cronius, the Companion of Numenius 235

Remarks on Thomas Taylor's Translation 236

Porphry: On The Cave of The Nymphs 239

Selected Bibliography 267

Biographical Notes 271

Index 273